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An Antioxidant A Day to Keep the Doctor Away?

Beach and seashore weather may be gone, but this time of the year brings its own special kind of healthy pleasures. I’m talking about apples. Dozens of varieties are available at supermarkets and, if you’re lucky, at nearby orchards. Apples are rich in a substance called quercetin–an antioxidant flavonol (part of the flavonoid family) — which is associated with a number of health benefits.*

In apples, quercetin is concentrated in the fruit’s pigmented skin. It can also be found naturally in onions, black and green teas and red wine. If quercetin-rich fruits and vegetables are lacking in your diet, supplements are widely available, especially in combination with other plant-based nutrients.

Here’s a sampling:

1. Quercetin and vitamin C. Many people are fans of vitamin C supplements because this nutrient can’t be made or stored in the body. Next time, why not try a quercetin and vitamin C combination? Vitamin C is used to form collagen, a protein the body uses to make skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.* It also helps support repair of the body’s tissues, reducing free radical damage.* When quercetin is added, this supplement can help promote a healthy cardiovascular system, bladder wall and colon, while also helping to maintain healthy blood pressure already within normal range.* This pairing is also available in liquid form and with added bioflavonoids.

2. Quercetin and bromelain. Quercetin is often paired with bromelain, a digestive enzyme derived from the pineapple plant which helps break down protein in the digestive process. This duo results in a powerful antioxidant product that also supports a healthy inflammatory response as well as a healthy immune system.*

3. Energy drinks with quercetin. Healthy beverages in powdered form are great to keep at work. Just adding water creates a tasty drink made more nutritious when the antioxidant quercetin is an ingredient.

Do you have a success story about how quercetin has helped you? Share it with us in the comments below.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Laurie Steelsmith, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist who specializes in women’s health. She is the co-author of Great Sex, Naturally: Every Woman’s Guide to Enhancing Her Sexuality Through the Secrets of Natural Medicine and co-author of Natural Choices for Women’s Health: How the Secrets of Natural and Chinese Medicine Can Create a Lifetime of Wellness. Visit her website at www.DrSteelsmith.com.

About Dr. Laurie Steelsmith

Laurie Steelsmith, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist who specializes in women’s health. She is the co-author of Great Sex, Naturally: Every Woman’s Guide to Enhancing Her Sexuality Through the Secrets of Natural Medicine and co-author of Natural Choices for Women’s Health: How the Secrets of Natural and Chinese Medicine Can Create a Lifetime of Wellness. Visit her website at www.DrSteelsmith.com.
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One comment on “An Antioxidant A Day to Keep the Doctor Away?”

My doctor recommended Quercetin&Bromelain. I take one capsule in the morning and one at night — my severe allergies to dust, pollen, etc. which I have had since I was 12 years old have disappeared. I am 74 and only started taking it a couple of years ago. I also eat one apple each day for my afternoon snack.